The Spectre’s Alter Ego Pays a Visit to NBC’s Constantine

Emmet Scanlan, best known for playing Brendan Brady on “Hollyoaks,” is set to play Jim Corrigan in the upcoming NBC series, “Constantine,” IGN reports. Corrigan, DC Comics fan will recall, is the original alter-ego of the nigh-omnipotent Spectre.

Corrigan made his first comic book appearance in 1940’s “More Fun Comics” #52. A police officer, Corrigan is murdered by criminals. When his soul refuses to enter the afterlife, however, he returns as a powerful supernatural defender of justice.

Scanlan is no stranger to superhero worlds, having just played a small part in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. It may be a while, though, before we see the Spectre himself, as it’s noted that the Corrigan character will recur as a mere mortal for the time being.

In “Constantine,” based on the comic book series “Hellblazer,” seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult John Constantine specializes in giving hell hell. Armed with a ferocious knowledge of the dark arts and his wickedly naughty wit, he fights the good fight  or at least he did. With his soul already damned to hell, he’s decided to leave his do-gooder life behind. But when demons target Liv, the daughter of one of Constantine’s oldest friends, he’s reluctantly thrust back into the fray  and he’ll do whatever it takes to save her. Before long, it’s revealed that Liv’s “second sight,” an ability to see the worlds behind our world and predict supernatural occurrences, is a threat to a mysterious new evil that’s rising in the shadows. And now it’s not just Liv who needs protection; the angels are starting to get worried too. So, together, Constantine and Liv must use her power and his skills to travel the country, find the demons that threaten our world  and send them back where they belong. After that, who knows maybe there’s hope for him and his soul after all.

From Executive Producer David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises) and director Neil Marshall (“Game of Thrones,” The Descent) comes a dark new thriller that proves fighting evil is a hell of a job. “Constantine” premieres October 24 on NBC.